Cotton-chopper



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shet 1.

. W. PRICE.

COTTON CHOPPER.

Patented May 5, 1885 mum/1 INVENTOR. W ATTORNEYS,

WITNESSES '(NO Model.) 2 shegts -sheet 2.

W. PRICE. ooTToni CHOPPER. No. 317,195. Patented May 5, 1885.

Y WITNESSES: 3 j INVENTOB.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WHITMAN PRICE, OF MOUNT OLIVE, NORTH CAROLINA.

COTTON-.bHOPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 317,195 dated May 5,1835.

Application filed January 23, 1885. (N model.) h

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WHITMAN PRICE, of Mount Olive,in the countyof Wayneand State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Cotton-Choppers; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,whichwill enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make anduse the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whichform a part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a sideviewof my improved cotton-chopper. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalverticalsectional ttie w of the saline. Fig. 3 is atransverse sectionalview taken through the axle of the machine, and Fig.4 is a detail view.Fig. 5 isatop plan view, and Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view, of themachine.

The same letters refer to the same parts in all the figures.

This invention relates to that class of devices which are known ascotton-choppers and it has for its objectto produce a device of thisclass which shall possess superior advantages in point of simplicity,durability, ease of operation and manipulation, and general efficiency.

With these ends in view the invention con-.

rear end of'the shaft G carries the hub H, in

which the radial arms or stemsl I are mounted, each of the latter beingprovided at its outer end with a transverse knife or cutter, which,onthe revolution of the shaft G, serves the purpose of cutting or choppingthe young cotton-stalks as the machine passes over the field, in theusual manner. To this portion of the invention it will not be necessaryto call further attention, inasmuch as it will not be herein claimed.

The frame proper, which consists mainly of two vertical parallel sidepieces, square, or nearly so, is provided at its lower end with V-shapedbrackets K K, the lower ends or corners of which are provided with shoesor runners L L arranged pivotally, so as to insure freedom of motionwhenever the ground is touched. The shoes L are provided with pins L,passing through perforations in them, and the said pins may bear againstthe rear edges of the forward arms of the brackets K when the runnersare running flat upon the ground, allowing the drive-wheel to touch theground; or they may bear against the rear edges of the rear arms of thebrackets when the runners are in their upright positions,

raising the drive-wheel off the ground, the first-described positionbeing shown in Fig. 1 and the last-described position being shown inFig. 2. Handles M M are attached to the front portion of the upper endof the frame, and to uprights N N at the rear end of the latter, so asto enable the machine to be conveniently manipulated.

Mounted upon the transverse main shaft or axle C are a pair of arms orbars, 0 O, extending forwardly and joined so as to form a tongue ordraft-pole, P, which is, in practice, to be provided with a clevis orlink, to which the draft may be attached. The front ends of the arms orbars 0 O are provided on their inner adjoining sides with recesses Q Qof a segmental shape, and having teeth R R to receive and retain asegmental toothed bar, S, extending upwardly from the front end of ayoke, T,

mounted upon the axle 0 within or between the draft-bars O 0. At thejunction of the bar Swith the yoke T is pivoted a shoe or runner, U,acting in substantially the same manner as,

the runners L L, to which reference has here-p inbefore been made. 1

The upper front end of the draft-pole, composed of the arms 0 O, isprovided witharope or chain, V, extending rearwardly tosomepor:

tion of the frame within easy reach of the ham dles, and where a hook orother device is provided to which it may be readily attached.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawingshereto annexed, the operation and advantages of this invention will bereadily understood.

The construction of the machine is simple in the extreme, and henceinexpensive and not liable to get out of order.

In guiding the machine over the ground the runners, which are arrangedto support both the front and rear ends of the machine, as oc-. casionshall require, will cause it to run easily and without the exercise ofexcessive power on the part of the draft-animal or the operator, whileby simply raising the draft-bar by means of the chain V, and by placingthe run ners L in their upright position, the frame may be raised so asto throw the machine out of gear by raising the drive-wheel out ofcontact with the ground.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States 1. In a cotton-chopper, a framemounted upon a wheel, D, and having V- shaped brackets having pivotedshoes or runners, substan tially as and for the purposes herein setforth.

2. In a cottouchopper, a frame mounted upon a wheel, D, and having\l-shaped brackets having pivoted shoes or runners at their lowercorners, in combination with a pivoted draft-bar connected adjustablywith an arm having a pivoted shoe or runner supporting the front end ofthe machine, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

3. In a cotton'chopper, the combination of a frame, a transverse mainshaft or axle having a bevel-gear, a longitudinal shaft having a pinionengaging said bevel-gear and pro vided at its rear end with a hub havingradial arms provided with cutters, two pivoted runners supporting themain frame, and an adj 11stable draft-frame having a pivoted shoe orrunner supporting the front portion of the frame, substantially as andfor the purposes herein set forth.

4. In a cotton-chopper, the combination of a frame, supporting bracketshaving pivoted runners, a transverse main shaft, a bifurcated draft-beamjournaled upon the latter and having a toothed recess at its front end,a yoke journaled upon the main shaft within the draft-beam and having asegmental bar at its front end, connected adj ustably with the front endof the draft-beam, and a shoe or runner pivoted at the junction of theyoke with its segmental bar, and a chain for adjusting the draft-bar andyoke with the front runner, substantially as and for the purpose hereinset forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereuntoaffixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

W'HITM AN PRICE.

Vi tn esses:

AUGUST PETERSON, JOHN T. ARMS.

